Steve Damish: This Chief will always be larger than life

Monday

Jan 27, 2014 at 8:30 AMJan 27, 2014 at 8:52 AM

Fire Chief Eddie "Sonny" Burrell, the last surviving firefighter who responded to the Strand Theatre fire, dies at 99.

Steve Damish The Enterprise

BROCKTON – Seven decades later, the firefighters still don their dress uniforms in late winter and march into Brockton City Hall – a picture of perfection and purpose. They have heavy hearts, teary eyes, white gloves – and black on their badges.They come each year to mark the horrific Strand Theatre fire, which claimed the lives of 13 firefighters in 1941. The incident defined a department, scarred a city, and forever weakened – for all firefighters – the fragile line between life and death.

It is one of Brockton firefighters' most painful memories – but also one they never want to forget. For that reason, the ceremony is tight in tradition, rich with meaning and memory, and as somber as this proud city gets.

This year, sadly, it will be worse. For the first time since the tragedy, the Chief won't be around – Chief Eddie "Sonny" Burrell, who died recently at 99.

Burrell had been the last surviving firefighter who responded just after midnight on that infamous date. Fresh-faced and eager at 26, he watched from atop an adjacent building on March 10, 1941, as the roof of the Strand buckled and dropped.

Below were his brothers – mostly members of Squad A and Ladder 1. Burrell had been moments away from lowering a ladder onto the roof so he and his company could join the fight.

It was a scene of carnage – one that grew uglier by the hour as the shroud of night dissipated.

Many of the victims left school-age children, who didn't find out they had lost their fathers until returning from school later that afternoon.

Brockton would be forever changed – forever in mourning.

But Burrell and his brothers didn't let the tragedy take them, too. Instead, as the city of Brockton shook, they set about fortifying its foundation – the Brockton Fire Department. Most would rededicate themselves to the profession, re-commit to healing the city. Their focus and determination unified and healed Brockton.

Burrell helped lead the effort, becoming chief for 16 years and working to shape the future for all Brockton firefighters. He protected, and inspired, the city for 40 years.

Burrell's warm, infectious smile, commitment to public safety and ever-upbeat attitude helped Brocktonians creep into the future, while never forgetting the painful past. Nowhere was this more evident than every March at the Strand ceremony.

Fire and death claimed the day in 1941 – but Burrell and Brockton have regained it every day since. Nothing ever provided more hope and healing through the years than seeing Burrell at the ceremony – in the bosom of his brotherhood – reflecting as the name of each victim was read, followed by a solitary bell tone.

Burrell's passing will surely be noted at the next memorial – but all can take heart that the Chief will still be there, ever on watch. That's his likeness, after all, in the Strand Memorial firefighter statue, erected in 2008 outside City Hall.

The bronze statue depicts a young Burrell on one knee, his face peering downward, forever fixated on the fallen.

His arms embrace his ax – in much the same way the city needs to always embrace the ideals of the Chief, and all of his firefighter family.

Especially when the bell tones for the heroes of the Strand.

Managing Editor Steve Damish can be reached at sdamish@enterprisenews.com